CityLink commissions feasibility study for new transit center

Monday

Feb 3, 2014 at 10:51 PM

Robert Connelly Journal Star news reporter

PEORIA — Research can finally start on where best to place a North Peoria transit center for CityLink services.

At CityLink's meeting Monday, the board unanimously approved a contract with TranSystems, based out of Chicago, to conduct a feasibility study on a new transit center in Northwest Peoria. The contract is for $125,000 and is fully paid by a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Josh Moore, CityLink's assistant general manager, said the study should take a few months. "They're going to want to look at all the routes and do some studies."

There have been three areas linked to a possible northern transit center. Those are near the Peoria Public Library North Branch, 3000 W. Grand Parkway; in an empty building at Northwoods Mall, close to Interstate 74 and Sterling Avenue; and close to Illinois Central College's North Campus.

In other news, CityLink hired eight new workers since Jan. 1, including six drivers who will finish training by the end of the month. CityLink officials will meet with representatives from IDOT, CountyLink, and the municipalities of Germantown Hills, Dunlap and Chillicothe after the 2010 census has changed the designation of those areas to urban from rural.

Moore said CountyLink had been serving sections of Chillicothe and Dunlap. The goal now is to figure things out after the change in how the cities are categorized. Moore said the cities could always join CityLink's taxing district to pay for the new routes.

Tom Lucek, CityLink general manager, brought forth a motion to purchase five vehicles for use in case of emergencies. He said two vehicles over the past two years have had to be repaired because of accidents, which hurt the flow of operations. Having five reserve vehicles would allow CityLink to easily switch out a vehicle.

Also, three more public hearings on Sunday bus service are scheduled for the end of the month. The first two will be at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at East Peoria City Hall, 100 S. Main St., East Peoria. The third begins at 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at West Peoria City Hall, 2506 W. Rohmann Ave., West Peoria.

Moore added that while winter storms continue through the rest of the season "unless we say different, we intend to run normal service."

Robert Connelly can be reached at rconnelly@pjstar.com or 686-3251. Follow him on Twitter @RConnelly_PJS.